There are a surprising number of vehicles that cannot use traditional snowchains, the types that put chain on the inside of the wheel as well as on the tread. This is usually because there is not enough space between the wheels and the shock absorbers; this can be a problem for ordinary SUVs and 4x4s as well as for high performance cars.

You will find this important information in your car handbook - please check this before using your snowchains! Our database is intended to do the basic work for you but, with so many new vehicles and tyre sizes, it should only ever be treated as a guide.

Tyre size

Please also check your tyre size - if you buy incorrectly-sized chains they will be either too tight or too loose.

Ladder track chains

The good news is that car handbooks usually only refer to "traditional snowchains". Ladder track chains such as the Polaire GRIP and Spikes-Spider range only put chain over the tyre tread, so are not subject to these restrictions. They are also ideal for use on rear wheel drives where there is minimal space between the top of the wheel and the wheel arch.

How do I check my tyre size?

How do I check my tyre size?

You are looking for three numbers (occasionally just two numbers) shown on the edge of the tyre, e.g. 195 / 65 - R15

For info, what do these numbers mean?

195 is the tyre width in mm. 65 is the profile, the distance from the edge of the rim to the top of the tread (the tyre "wall") in mm, expressed as a percentage of the width, i.e. the tyre wall is 127mm high in this example (195 x 65). 15 is the "rim size" in inches (a complicated measurement).

Farad SNOW tyre crampons - Type A with 19mm fittings

Farad is a family business, based near Turin, which has been making car components and accessories for over 30 years. They are experts in plastic moulding, making Original Equipment items for almost every car manufacturer you can think of.

Farad SNOW is a relatively new tyre crampon system which combines Farad's expertise in (a) plastic moulding design and manufacture and (b) precision metalworking.

Farad SNOW scores above the competition in three main areas: (1) there's a set for almost every tyre size available, including those which can't use snow chains, and at a sensible price, (2) cars with larger wheels need 1 of only 2 sizes, so it's likely you'll be able to transfer them from car to car, making them much better long term value for money than competitor products, and (3) the wheel nut fitting system is a technically superior design, and also well priced.

You start by fitting mounting plates to 2 driving wheels. The instructions are very clear, and there's also a CD; all necessary tools are supplied. Different cars require different fitting kits, depending on wheel nut size. The tyre crampons are easily and quickly fitted to the mounting plates as and when required - please click here to see a movie of Farad SNOW being fitted (6.6 MB).

Buy a set of Farad SNOW from us this season and we'll give you, for a nominal charge of 10p, an adult sized yellow "high viz vest" - you must carry one of these when driving in France, but it should be useful wherever you're fitting your chains; check the link below for further details. Please note that we'll send only one free gift per set of snow chains ordered.

We're also showing you a range of other ski-drive products which we're selling here at market leading prices, including a snow and ice windscreen protector at only £1.50 and a telescopic snow shovel at only £8.50 - both of these items are almost essential kit for ski drivers.

Delivery charges and arrangements:

Free delivery offer for snow chains! As part of our Snow chains offer this season we have added a free delivery option for all orders including snow chains, except for orders which also include a roof box. It covers all UK addresses except for any delivery address that includes a sea crossing.

See below for our normal delivery arrangements:

We charge a contribution towards delivery costs, depending on what you order, where you live, and how quickly you want the goods.

For most UK addresses, the charge for our two to three day service is £5.50 (£9.50 for orders including a roof box) and our charge for Next Working Day deliveries is £8.50 (£12.50 for orders involving a roof box). AutoSock, shoe chains, RUD i-Sock, and small spare parts, are charged £3.95 (Royal Mail Tracked), £4.95 (Royal Mail Express Tracked) or £5.95 (express courier, usually Next Working Day).

There are different charges for any delivery including a sea crossing, and deliveries to Skye - we will contact you with a quote on receipt of order.

Orders for Next Working Day delivery need to be received by 4.00pm.

There are no deliveries on Saturdays, Sundays or Bank Holidays, except for postable items where Royal Mail has a Saturday delivery. Next Working Day orders placed on a Friday will be delivered on the Monday, Next Working Day orders placed on a Saturday will be delivered on the Tuesday.

We are very flexible with our deliveries and will aim to deliver on a day and at an address which suits you. Goods can usually be left without signature - we prefer this with roof boxes. There's a "Special Delivery Instructions" box in the checkout area where we'll ask you to choose a typical instruction and then amend it to suit your particular requirements.

No retailer or courier company can ever "guarantee" a Next Working Day delivery. All courier companies occasionally have the same transport problems as can happen to everyone else, including snow blocked roads, closed roads, traffic jams, mechanical breakdown, an inability to find the delivery address, or to gain access to it if, for example, it's in a block of flats. We work with some of the best couriers in the business, and overall they provide an outstanding service.

Payment options:

We take the following cards, and also PayPal. Please note that the entry on your card statement will be from "The Roof Box Company".

If you would prefer not to pay online, or to pay by cheque, please phone us to place your order.

Secure payments

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There are three parts to our snow chains offer this year:

(1) Clearance prices on many top branded snow chains, including RUD and Thule - an amazing opportunity for those who are quick off the mark! Thule is the biggest brand in the car racks market, but they recently sold their snow chains division, and the same chains are now being sold under the König brand. Thule branded chains have the same specifications as the König branded versions - all that has changed is the name on the chain and the name on the box.

(2) A free UK mainland delivery option for any snow chain order except any orders including a roof box or a sea crossing.

(3) Multibuy discounts - significant discounts if you buy two pairs of snow chains at the same time, or one pair of chains and one pair of AutoSock: If you do either of these things, we will discount the snow chains as follows:

Polaire, RUD, Spikes-Spider and Thule snow chains - at least 10% off!

Maggi snow chains - at least 20% off! Up to 50% off where we have large overstocks.

As usual, you change the quantities in the Shopping Basket.

Snow chain recommendations

We are snow chain specialists, so we stock a large number of brands, and many different types of chain. Regular chain users usually know what they're looking for, and we hope they find it on this site, but many customers ask for further guidance about what they should buy. So here goes:

(1) Please use the filters on the previous page to narrow your choice, and also check out the Basic snow chain information links at the top of the previous page. Note that this year we are aiming to clear our overstocks, offering premium brand chains, including Thule and RUD, at massive discounts, with some at less than cost price. There’s a Clearance filter – it’s worth a look!

(2) The big differences between the European branded chains and most of the Chinese chains are (a) steel quality and (b) attention to manufacturing details. There is a market for cheaper chains than the ones we offer, but it’s not a market we want to be in, especially as the price differences between questionable and good are often only about £20.

(3) These are our recommendations for different types of snow chain, based on many years’ experience of testing and using chains:

Chains for cars / small vans

Traditional basic chains: Look for Thule CB series chains being sold off cheap. They have the same specifications as the latest König version, just a different brand name, so this is a great opportunity to grab a bargain. (Thule have sold their snow chains business to König.) Otherwise, the Polaire XP9 (cars) are good value at under £50.

Traditional self-tensioning chains: Thule CG-9, Thule CL-10, Thule CS-10 if available - see above. If they've sold out, choose the RUD easy2go, because easy2go are strong, well made, and the bungee type of self-tensioning system is the most reliable. If these are also sold out, the König CG-9 chains really are good, with a clever self-tensioning system.

Chains for SUVs / heavy 4x4s / medium and large vans

Traditional basic chains: Check Clearance for Thule XB-16, Maggi RAPID-MATIC V5, RUD Grip V. If sold out, then without hesitation we recommend the Polaire XP16 – a really well specified chain at an excellent price, with innovative packaging.

Traditional self-tensioning chains: Thule XG-Pro, or the König XG-Pro if the Thule are not listed.

Ladder track chains / front-fixing chains: look at both the Polaire GRIP and the Spikes-Spider systems. The GRIP has many unique features, most obviously their polyurethane tread which allows them to be driven (at low speed) on tarmac - customers who are basically dressed for office work will really appreciate this. The Spikes-Spider SPORT (vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes) are the fastest to fit and remove, and can be resized. Both models are ideal for quick and easy fitting to vehicles which don’t have enough space in the wheel arch to get your hands in to fit traditional chains. The Polaire GRIP are at the leading edge of snow chain design; they’re outstanding.

Drivers of very heavy 4x4s and large vans should check out the equally fast-fitting Spikes-Spider ALPINE Pro, choice (for example) of many emergency services in Germany and Switzerland, effectively turning tyres into tracks.